Essential discipleship 5

You Were Created
To Become Like
Christ
Adapted from Rick Warren’s
Purpose Driven Life
Monday, 12 August 13

Growing Through
Temptation
Section 26 Page 201-208

Every temptation is
an opportunity to do
good

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who
perseveres under trial,
because when he has
stood the test, he will
receive the crown of life
that God has promised to
those who love him.

Temptation is a stepping stone
to spiritual maturity not a
stumbling block - an
opportunity to do right not
wrong - choose right and you
grow in character.
Warren does this by suggesting
you identify the character
qualities of Jesus - the fruit of
the Spirit - and knowing that
Jesus is each of these perfectly

How does the HS produce these
in your life?
Slowly

“God develops the fruit of
the Spirit in your life by
allowing you to
experience circumstances
in which you’re tempted
to express the exact
opposite quality”
Warren, page 202

We learn love as God puts
unlovely people around us -
loving lovely people is easy!
We learn real joy in the midst
of sorrow - happiness
depends on external
circumstances, joy depends
on your relationship with
God.
Peace comes through times of
confusion and chaos -
choosing God when we are
afraid

You can’t claim to be good if
you’ve never had the
opportunity to be unfaithful -
integrity is built by defeating
the opportunity to be
dishonest, humility by
refusing pride etc.
Each time you defeat a
temptation you become more
like Jesus

How Temptation Works
Satan is entirely predictable - he has used
the same strategy and tricks for all of
creation.
2 Cor 2:11 TM After all, we don't want to
unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet
more mischief—we're not oblivious to his
sly ways!

Step 1 - a desire is created in
you, sinful (revenge, control
etc.) or legitimate (need for
love etc.)
The temptation is to fulﬁll
either of these in a sinful way
- a wrong way or at the wrong
time - a shortcut which you
might think you deserve, or
will make you feel better.
This begins within us.

Mark 7:21-23 - For from
within, out of men's hearts,
come evil thoughts, sexual
immorality, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
lewdness, envy, slander,
arrogance and folly. All these
evils come from inside and
make a man 'unclean.' "
James 4:1 - What causes ﬁghts
and quarrels among you? Don't
they come from your desires
that battle within you?

Step 2 - doubt, about what God
has said about the sin.
“Did God really say...surely God
wants me to be happy...doesn’t
this apply to someone else at
some other time...”
Heb 3:12 So watch your step,
friends. Make sure there's no
evil unbelief lying around that
will trip you up and throw you
off course, diverting you from
the living God.

Step 3 - deception, satan does
not tell the truth but replaces
what God has said with lies or
half truths - no one will know, it
is only a little sin...
John 8: 44 You belong to your
father, the devil...He was a
murderer from the beginning,
not holding to the truth, for
there is no truth in him. When
he lies, he speaks his native
language, for he is a liar and the
father of lies.

Step 4 - disobedience, you
act on what you have been
thinking about, you give in -
the thought is birthed into
action
James 1:14-16 each one is
tempted when, by his own
evil desire, he is dragged
away and enticed. Then, after
desire has conceived, it gives
birth to sin; and sin, when it
is full-grown, gives birth to
death. Don't be deceived, my
dear brothers.

Overcoming Temptation
It is not enough to
understand
temptation - you have
to overcome it

1. Refuse to be Intimidated
Many Christians are frightened and
demoralised by tempting thoughts - feeling
ashamed for being tempted - you will not
outgrow temptation, it is part of a fallen
world
Satan does not tempt those already doing his
will but he hates those who are not -
temptation is a good sign in this sense

It is not a sin to be tempted
“You cannot stop
birds form ﬂying over
your head but you can
keep them from
making a nest in your
hair”
Martin Luther

The closer you grow to
God the more satan
hates you - and will try
to bring you down.
Sometimes when you
pray a strange or evil
thought might enter
your mind - to distract or
shame you - it is satan
trying to stop your
prayers - don’t condemn
yourself but refocus on
God

2. Recognize your pattern of
temptation and be prepared for it
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-
controlled and alert. Your
enemy the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to
devour.
Plan wisely - make good
choices
Where are you most
vulnerable to temptation?
Time of day, location, people,
tired, lonely, stressed, self
pitying, angry, hurt,
successful

temptation and be prepared for it
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-
controlled and alert. Your
enemy the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to
devour.
Plan wisely - make good
choices

Eph 4:26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do
well to be angry—but don't use your anger as
fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't
go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that
kind of foothold in your life.
Prov. 4:26-27 Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are ﬁrm. Do not
swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot
from evil.
Prov. 16:17 The highway of the upright
avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his
life

3. Request God’s help
Psalm 50:15
and call upon me in the day of
trouble; I will deliver you, and you
will honor me.
Many Biblical characters prayed
this simple prayer. And remember
God does understand;
Heb. 4:15 For we do not have a
high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been
tempted in every way, just as we
are—yet was without sin.

God wants to help you
defeat temptation - do you
want to be helped?
Are you embarrassed to
ask for help with the same
repeating temptation? God
is patient and
understanding - don’t you
think he would rather you
ask for help than be
defeated?
God is eager to be
gracious and merciful.

Ask God for help, for power
to do the right thing - and
expect him to help.
Heb 4:16 Let us then
approach the throne of
grace with conﬁdence, so
that we may receive mercy
and ﬁnd grace to help us in
our time of need.
Temptations throw us back
on Jesus

Key Question:
What christlike character quality
can I develop by defeating the most
common temptation I face?

Summary Sheet
Growing Through
Temptation: _______________
____________________________
How does temptation work?
2 Cor 2:11 - be aware of
satan’s ways
1. Desire - Jas 4:1
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
4. ________________________
Dealing with temptation
1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
Verse: James 1:12
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

Summary Sheet
Growing Through
Temptation: Every
temptation is an opportunity
to do good - God wants to
grow the fruit HS in me!
How does temptation work?
2 Cor 2:11 - be aware of
satan’s ways
1. Desire - Jas 4:1
2. Doubt - did God really say?
3. Deception - John 8:44
4. Disobedience - James 1:
14-16
Dealing with temptation
1. Refuse to be intimidated -
Psalm 121
temptation and be prepared
for it - where, when?
3. Request God’s Help - do I
really want help? Heb 4:16
Verse: James 1:12

DEFEATING
TEMPTATION

2 TIM. 2:22 FLEE THE EVIL
DESIRES OF YOUTH, AND
PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS,
FAITH, LOVE AND PEACE,
ALONG WITH THOSE WHO
CALL ON THE LORD OUT OF A
PURE HEART.

1 Cor 10:13
No temptation has seized
you except what is common
to man. And God is faithful;
he will not let you be
tempted beyond what you
can bear. But when you are
tempted, he will also provide
a way out so that you can
stand up under it.

THERE IS
ALWAYS
A WAY
OUT

There is always a way
out - God has promised
not to allow more than
you can handle.
But there is a biblical
pattern for defeating
temptation.

REFOCUS YOUR ATTENTION
TO SOMETHING ELSE
The Bible does not tell you to resist temptation -
but you should resist the devil! They are two
differing things.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you.
Resisting a thought only intensifies focus on the
wrong thing and strengthens it.
The Bible does not
tell you to resist
temptation

REFOCUS YOUR ATTENTION
TO SOMETHING ELSE
The Bible does not tell you to resist temptation -
but you should resist the devil! They are two
differing things.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the
Resisting a thought only intensifies focus on the
wrong thing and strengthens it.

Warren says blocking a thought out
of your mind is simply a way of
driving it deeper into your memory
- so resisting it is simply reinforcing
it. In effect you strengthen it
every time you think of it.
The battle against sin is won or lost
in your mind
Temptation usually begins with a
thought - so the best way to
neutralise it is by turning your mind
elsewhere.
This is the first step in defeating
temptation.

Warren says blocking a thought out
of your mind is simply a way of
driving it deeper into your memory
- so resisting it is simply reinforcing
it. In effect you strengthen it
every time you think of it.
The battle against sin is won or lost
in your mind
Temptation usually begins with a
thought - so the best way to
neutralise it is by turning your mind
elsewhere.
This is the first step in defeating
temptation.
Ps 119:37 - Turn my eyes away
from worthless things; Job 31:1 -
Watch people yawn and...?Watch an
advert for food and...?
Suggestion is powerful!
Temptation captures your attention
- then arouses your emotion - which
activates your behaviour - and so
you act on what you feel.
Ignoring a temptation is far more
effective than fighting it - your mind
is on something else so it loses
power.

This might mean physical action -
leaving a room.
Spiritually your mind is most
open to temptation - so fill it with
God’s word
Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome
by evil, but overcome evil with
good.
Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy
brothers, who share in the
heavenly calling, fix your
thoughts on Jesus, the apostle
and high priest whom we
confess.

This might mean physical action -
leaving a room.
Spiritually your mind is most
open to temptation - so fill it with
God’s word
Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome
by evil, but overcome evil with
good.
Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy
brothers, who share in the
heavenly calling, fix your
thoughts on Jesus, the apostle
and high priest whom we
confess.
2 Tim 2:8, Php 4:8
Serious temptation resisters
manage their mind and media
intake.
Prov 4:23 TEV
2 Cor 10:5
Practice - and ask the HS to help
you - then there is a chance of
survival or even overcoming.

REVEAL YOUR STRUGGLE TO A
GODLY FRIEND OR SUPPORT
GROUP
Ecc 4:9-10
Do not tell everyone, just someone.
If it is a persistent sin, bad habit etc. you will
not master it alone - you need other people to
help you. This person can pray, encourage and
hold you accountable.
James 5:16 -Therefore confess your sins to
each other and pray for each other so that you
may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man
is powerful and effective.

Warren suggests that if
you want to be free of sin
or habits - confess it,
reveal it. Hiding
intensifies the situation,
bringing it into the light
makes it shrink.
Satan wants you to think
your problems and
temptations are unique -
but all have sinned and all
need setting free.
Pride is what stops us
dealing with these things.

Warren suggests that if
you want to be free of sin
or habits - confess it,
reveal it. Hiding
intensifies the situation,
bringing it into the light
makes it shrink.
Satan wants you to think
your problems and
temptations are unique -
but all have sinned and all
need setting free.
Pride is what stops us
dealing with these things.
What are you pretending isn’t a problem in
your life?
What are you afraid to talk about?
It is humbling to admit our weaknesses to
others - but remember,
But he gives more grace. Therefore it
says, "God opposes the proud, but gives
grace to the humble." Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the

RESIST THE DEVIL
Submit yourselves
therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and
he will flee from
you.
We have to fight back -
the NT uses the image of
battle, words like
conquer, strive, fight,
overcome.
How do we do this?

Eph. 6:17 Take the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God.
Accept God’s salvation - say yes
to Christ and you can say no to
the devil.
Use the WOG as your weapon
against satan - consider how
Jesus did this, Luke 4:1ff
The devil is better at arguing
than you are - logic and opinion
mean nothing to him, only the
WOG is effective.

REALISE YOUR
VULNERABILITY
Don’t get too clever -
remember you are in God’s
strength, not your own.
Jer 17:9 The heart is
deceitful above all things
and beyond cure. Who can
understand it?
In the right situation any of
us is capable of sin - keep
your guard up at all times

Prov 14:16 The wise are cautious
and avoid danger; fools plunge
ahead with reckless confidence.
1 Cor 10:12 So, if you think you
are standing firm, be careful that
you don't fall!
(TM) Don't be so naive and
self-confident. You're not
exempt. You could fall flat on
your face as easily as anyone
else. Forget about self-
confidence; it's useless.
Cultivate God-confidence.

Key Point:
There is always a way out.
Key Question:
Who could I ask to be a spiritual
partner to help me defeat a
persistent temptation by praying for
me?

Essential discipleship 5

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